Vibratory power-driven conveyor

ABSTRACT

An article-handling apparatus is provided with an articlefeeding means to feed individual articles, such as candies or other objects, to a transfer arm which places each article onto a conveyor. The article-feeding means is provided with a vibrating tray and bowl combination which feed and orient the articles.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS U nited States Patent [72]Inventors Franklin J. Thurston Hartford; Joseph M. Nazali, WestHartford, both of,

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ation which feed and g apparatus is provided with dividual articles,such as fer arm which places each -feeding means is provided Btss 21/00Bloomfieid, Conn. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 595,447,Nov. 18, 1966, now Patent No. 3,456,424.

[S4] VIBRATORY POWER-DRTVEN CONVEYOR 2 Claims, 19 Drawing Figs.

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SHEET 4 [1F 9 PATENTEU JUL 1 3 IBYl SHEET 8 OF 9 PATENTEU JUL 1 3 l97lSHEET 8 HF Nam-FE mam-EH muub VIBRATORY POWER-DRIVEN CONVEYOR Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser.No. 595,447, filed Nov. I8, 1966 now US. Pat. No. 3,456,424.

This invention relates to machines for packaging articles, such ascandies or the like, and deals more particularly with an apparatus whichis capable of orienting articles of irregular shape and of transferringsuch articles into compartments of an open box or preformed tray.

In the description which follows the invention has been generallydescribed as applied to a machine for packaging candies. This has beendone primarily for convenience and in view of the fact that theinvention is particularly well suited to this use. It should beunderstood, however, that there is no intention to so limit theinvention, and that it may well be used for handling articles other thancandies. Apparatus embodying various aspects of the invention also neednot necessarily be used strictly for packaging articles and could, forexample, be used for orienting and transferring articles in an automaticas sembly system.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an articlepackaging or handling apparatus capable of automatically handlingrelatively large batches of articles of various size, of orienting sucharticles, and of feeding said articles individually to designatedlocations, such as into the compartments of a box or tray, according toa particular predetermined pattern.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an articlepackaging or handling apparatus which is flexible as to the type ofcandies or other articles handled and as to the arrangement in whichsuch articles are deposited in their end locations, the apparatus beingmade up of a plurality of similar components capable of being arrangedin a wide variety ofdifferent configurations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an articlepackaging or handling apparatus especially well suited to handlingfragile or soft articles, such as candies or confection, without damage.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an articlepackaging or handling apparatus including a plurality of vibratoryfeeder bowls each of which is fed batches of articles by an associatedvibrating tray directly driven by the same motor as the vibratory feederbowl.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an articlepackaging or handling apparatus including a novel and versatile conveyorfor intermittently feeding boxes, trays or other receptacles through theapparatus in timed relation with the movement ofarticles onto saidreceptacles.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription and from the drawings forming a part hereof.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and suchembodiment will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the construction disclosed, and that thedrawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose.

Ofthe drawings:

FIG. I is a plan view ofa portion ofan article packaging apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 takenalong the line 22 ofthat figure.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3of FIG. I showing the walking beam conveyor and a valve block foroperation of one of several article transfer means associated therewith.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the walking beam conveyorshowing the mechanism for intermittently feeding boxes or traystherealong.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the opposite end of one ofthe pushrods shown in FIG. 4, together with the mechanism for verticallyreciprocating the pushers.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through one of the chutes shown in FIG. I,and is taken along the line 66 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a vertical section through one of the chutes shown in FIG. 1,and is taken along the line 7-7 ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 but shows the two side portions of one chutespread to accommodate articles of relatively large size.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view showing one feeder bowl together with itsassociated tray and inclined chute, and also shows a transfer mechanismfor lifting the lowermost article from the chute and depositing the samein a box or tray on the walking beam conveyor, the transfer mechanismbeing shown in position for picking up such an article in solid linesand for depositing the article in the box in broken lines.

FIG. 10A is a schematic electrical diagram of the circuit operated bythe switch shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a plan view ofa tray, a feeder bowl, and a portion of theinclined chute with portions of the tray and bowl being broken away toreveal mechanism for vibrating the tray linearly in response torotational vibrations of the bowl.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 13-13 ofFIG.l2.

FIGv 14 is a side view of the valve assembly shown in FIG. 3, and istaken along the line l4-14 of that Figure.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the transfermechanism depicted in FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 16-16 ofFIG.15.

FIG. 17 is horizontal sectional view taken along the line 17-17ofFIG.16.

FIG. 18 is a schematic and circuit layout of an alternative tray andfeeder bowl arrangement.

Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows anarticle-packaging apparatus of the present invention particularly wellsuited to depositing candies in upwardly open compartments of apreformed tray, box, or other similar receptacle. The illustratedapparatus includes a conveyor, indicated generally at 20, upon which aplurality of such receptacles are conveyed from right to left in anintermittent fashion, the direction of movement being indicated by thearrow 23. The conveyor 20 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, 4, and5, with reference to which said conveyor will be described in greaterdetail hereinbelow. In the present case the receptacles are shown to beboxes 22, 22, each of which includes a plurality of upwardly opencavities or compartments. These compartments may be all of the samegeneral outline and arranged in a regular order, or may be of variousdifferent outlines and somewhat irregularly arranged. In either case,however, the shape and arrangement is the same from box to box. Forsimplicity, the compartments of the boxes 22, 22 shown in FIG. 1 aregenerally square in shape, of uniform size and are regularly arranged,the apparatus in turn being adapted to handle candies which are of agenerally'uniform size and shape. It will, of course, be apparent fromthe description to follow that it is within the scope of the presentinvention to adjust and rearrange various parts of the apparatus toallow its use for feeding candies of various shapes to correspondingloading stations, and for transferring such candies into particularcompartments in preformed trays or boxes having a number of differentlyshaped and sized compartments to receive the same.

In the use of the illustrated apparatus, batches of candies 24, 24 to bepacked are placed on loading trays 26, 26, with each tray receivingcandies which are generally identical to one another. That is, candiesof one kind or sort are loaded onto one tray 26 and candies of anotherkind or sort are or may be loaded onto another tray 26. It should alsobe understood that the candies are moved onto the trays from flats, bythe operator, and rest on their bottom surfaces when received by thetrays so that there is no problem or orienting the candies to turn upthe proper side. Each tray is inclined, as

shown in FIG. 2, and is vibrated linearly so as to feed the candiesplaced thereon into a subadjacent feeder bowl 28 at a controlled rate.Each of the feeder bowls 28, 28 is mounted on a generally conventionalvibratory driving base or motor 30 which vibrates the associated feederbowl 28 angularly about its vertical central axis in such a manner as tocause it to feed the candies around the bowl in the direction of thearrows 32, 32 of FIG. 1. The feeder bowls 28, 28 each have a generallyconvex or conical upper surface so that the candies 24, 24 move downsuch surface by gravity as they are vibrated, and in so moving moveradially outwardly toward a peripheral fence 34. Each feeder bowl 28 hasa chute 36 associated therewith for delivering candies from the feederbowl to an associated "loading station 35. Each chute is inclined, asshown in FIG. 2,

and has an upper end for receiving candies from the feeder bowl througha gate in the bowls peripheral fence 34. Articlerejecting means areprovided adjacent the gate to reject articles which are not properlyoriented for entry into the chute 36.

The articles 24, 24 which do enter the chutes are gravity fed thereby tothe associated loading stations. At each of these loading stations thecandies are successively picked up by an article transfer means 37 andare deposited in the proper compartments in boxes 22, 22. In FIG. I onlya portion of the apparatus of the present invention is shown, enoughtrays, feeder bowls, and chutes being provided for loading six articles24, 24 out ofa total number of 30 required to fill each box 22.Additional components similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 are locateddownstream of those shown to fill the other compartments of the boxes.

It is an important feature of the present invention that each feederbowl 28 is mounted on a pedestal, or base, 38 which is adjustable inheight to provide an optimum angle of inclination for the associatedchute 36. Preferably and as shown in FIG. 2, each of the pedestals 38comprises a base portion 40 and an upper portion 42 which is adjustablyreceived therein and adapted to be locked at a particular height by alocking screw 44. The upper portion 42 carries the vibrating base ormotor 30 of the associated feeder bowl 28.

The base portions if the pedestals may be fastened to the floor, butpreferably are made relatively heavy so that they will remain in placedue to their weight, and the weight of the other parts carried thereby,without the need for fasteners. This allows them to be readily movedfrom place to place to vary the configuration ofthe overall apparatus,if desired.

Feeder units, made up of feeder bowls, trays, and pedestals, may beadded to the apparatus to pack more candies in each box, and such unitsmay be removed, or not used, when packing fewer candies in a box. Itwill be apparent that such units could also be assembled on both sidesof the conveyor 20, depending upon the space requirements of theparticular installation and the number of candies to be packed in eachbox. If desired, suitable auxiliary means may also be provided forinserting conventional paper cups in the trays or boxes 22, 22 eitherupstream of the loading stations just described or at each such loadingstation.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the box conveyor 20, FIGS.3 and 4 show the conveyor 20 as comprising a fixed framework whichincludes an upwardly facing box-engaging surface 40 provided by twolaterally spaced plated 41, 41 and longitudinally extending channels 42,42 therebelow for supporting the plates. The channels 42, 42 aresupported by suitable parts of the framework as shown in FIG. 2, andcarry upright posts, one of which is indicated at 44 in FIG. 3, spacedlongitudinally along their length, a number of such posts being carriedby each channel member. These posts are used to support two guide rails46, 46 which are connected with the posts by supporting members 47, 47having cylindrical shanks received in conforming openings in the poststo allow lateral adjustment of the guide rails to vary the spacingtherebetween to accommodate differently sized boxes.

Means is also included in the conveyor for pushing the boxes 22, 22 inan intermittent fashion longitudinally therealong. This means includes aplurality of box-engaging pushers 48, 48 as best shown in'FIG. 3 andFIG. 4, fixed relative to one another and carried by a longitudinallyextending beam 50. The beam 50 is made up of two channel-shaped members52, 52 arranged back to back and spaced apart laterally by a spacer 54of hollow rectangular cross section. Attached to the top of the spacer54, as by welding or riveting, and extending along the full length ofthe beam is a channel member 59 having an upwardly open slot extendingalong its length. The various pushers 48, 48 are adjustably attached tothe channel member 59 by screws 56, 56 each of which passes through arespective one of the pushers and is threaded into an associated nut 57slidably received in, and held captive by, the channel member. Thereforeby loosening its screw 56 any one of the pushers may be moved todifferent positions along the length of the beam to vary the spacingbetween the pushers and to thereby adapt the conveyor to use withdifferent size boxes.

The box conveyor further includes a means for repeatedly and in sequenceextending the pushers 48, 48 above the boxengaging surface 40 of theconveyor, for moving said pushers through a predetermined lineardisplacement along the conveyor, and for then retracting said pushersbelow the surface 40 and returning them to their initial positions.Preferably, this means includes a pair of vertically reciprocable yokes,one of which is shown at 58 in FIGS. 3 and 5, located at spaced pointsalong the length of the conveyor. Each yoke 58 has an upwardly extendingbifurcated end portion, each bifurcation of which carries a pair ofrollers 60, 60. The two rollers of each pair are preferably arranged, asviewed in FIG. 5, on either side of the yoke member 58 and are slightlyoffset vertically from one another so that one engages the upwardlyfacing inner surface of the associated channel member 52 and the otherengages the downwardly facing inner surface of the same channel member.As so constructed, the beam 50 is free to move longitudinally relativeto the yokes, while at the same time being restrained to move verticallytherewith. The lower end of each yoke 58 is engageable by a followerroller 62 rotatably carried at the free end ofa crank arm 64. The crankarm 64 is fixed to a rocker shaft 66. As best shown in FIG. 3, eachrocker shaft 66 has its respective end portions journaled in dependingbrackets 68, 68.

A bearing block 70 slidably supports the cylindrical lower end portionof the yoke 58 so as to restrict the same to vertical movement. Adepending crank arm 72 is fixed to the rocker shaft 66 and has one endofa push rod 74 pivotally connected thereto. It will be apparent fromFIG. 5 that reciprocatory motion of the push rod 74 is effective toraise and lower the yoke 58 and to thereby vertically extend and retractthe box-engaging pushers 48, 48.

Still with reference to FIG. 4, the push rod 74 is connected at itsopposite end to the upright arm of a bellcrank 76, which bellcrank is inturn pivotally supported on the fixed housing of a barrel cam unit 78. Asimilarly shaped right hand bellcrank is also pivotally mounted on theopposite side of the cam unit housing 78 and a second push rod 82 isconnected to its upright arm for operation ofa second yoke (not shown)at the opposite end of the beam 50, which second yoke is constructed andoperates in a similar manner to the one described above. A rotary cam 84is carried by a shaft 86 of the barrel cam unit 78. This cam 84 controlsthe movement ofa cam follower 87 carried by one arm of the right-handbellcrank 80. The cam follower 87 includes a shaft 89, fixed to thecrank 80, which extends into a slot 91 in the crank 76 to drivinglyconnect the two cranks. From FIG. 4 it will therefore be apparent thatrotation of the cam 84 causes reciprocatory motion, in the direction ofthe arrows 88, 88 of both of the push rods 74 and 82 so as to effectvertical movement of the two associated yokes, the beam 50, and thebox-engaging pushers 48, 48 in the mannerjust described. It should alsobe noted that the cam 84 is made up of two plated 84a and 84b. The plate84a is fixed to the shaft 86 and the plate 84!; is adjustably fixed tothe plate 84a by two screws 93, 93 received in arcuate slots in theplate 84b. Therefore by adjusting the plate 84b relative to the plate84a the point at which the pusher members riseabove the surface 40during each cycle of the conveyor may be varied. The fall portion of thecam is, however, in the fixed cam plate 840 and therefore the pushermembers are always retracted at the same point in each cycle. Also, itshould be noted that the fall portion of the cam is very steep.Therefore, when this portion of the cam reaches the follower 87 thefollower suddenly moves inwardly toward the shaft 86 and causes thepusher members to be suddenly retracted. It will, of course, also befurther understood that during the time the pusher members are raisedand moved forwardly they push the associated boxes 22, 22 forwardly, theboxes being advanced one step during each cycle of the conveyor, Due tothe sudden retraction of the pusher members provided by the cam 84 theboxes are accordingly accurately located on the conveyor at the end ofeach period of forward box movement. In the case illustrated in FIG. 1there are five boxes located between the two loading stations shown andthe conveyor therefore undergoes six cycles of movement in moving aparticular box from one station to the other. The number of cyclesrequired may, however, be varied to suit different size boxes ordifferent configurations of the apparatus components without departingfrom the invention. In any event, the action of the conveyor is such asto accurately locate each box brought to a loading station 35 with theassociated transfer mechanism 37.

A speed-reducing unit 77 is fixed to the framework of the machinealongside of the barrel cam unit 78, as shown in FIG. 4. A crank 90 ismounted on the output shaft (not shown) of the unit 77 and carries aneccentrically mounted stud 92, provided with a roller 95, which isradially adjustable to vary its radial displacement from the axis ofsaid shaft. A generally vertically arranged lever 94 is pivotallysupported by the framework of the conveyor, as indicated generally at96, and includes an elongated slot 98 in which the stud 92 and itsroller 95 are received so that rotation of the crank 90 causes the lever94 to oscillate back and forth in the direction of the arrows 100, 100.The free, or upper end, of the lever 94 is received in suitablevertically elongated slot or socket 102 provided in a depending block103 fixed to the beam 50. A stud fixed to the upper end of the lever 94carries a roller 105 for engatement with the walls of the slot 102. Itwill thus be apparent that rotation of the crank 90 causes longitudinalreciprocatory movement of the beam 50 as a result of the driving actionof the lever 94 working on the block 103, as well as vertical movementof said beam and its associated box-engaging pushers 48, 48 ashereinbefore described. It will also be apparent that by adjusting theradial displacement or eccentricity of the stud 92 and roller 95 theamplitude of the reciprocatory movement ofthe beam 50 may be readilyvaried.

Still with reference to FIG. 4, the speed-reducing unit 77 has an inputshaft 104 which is drivingly connected to an elec tric motor 110 througha conventional variable speed belt drive unit, indicated generally at106, powered by a motor 108. The variable speed drive 106 thereforedirectly drives the speed reducing unit 77. The barrel cam unit 78 is inturn driven from the output shaft of the speed-reducing unit 77 by achain 75 trained over sprockets (not shown) respectively fixed to theoutput shaft of the speed-reducing unit and the input shaft 86 of thebarrel cam unit. Varying the speed ofthe input shaft 104 ofthespeed-reducing unit 77, by adjusting the variable speed drive,therefore, uniformly changes the speeds of the vertical beam motion andthe longitudinal beam motion.

As shown in FIG. 4, the barrel cam unit 78 also has an output shaft 112which through the action of its unit, is oscillated angularly back andforth about its central axis in response to rotation ofthe shaft 86. Thebarrel cam causes the shaft 112 to oscillate through one complete cycleof back and forth movement between limits spaced 90 from one another asthe shaft 86 undergoes one full revolution, with a dwell periodoccurring at each limit of the shaft travel. The output shaft 112 isconnected by suitable means (not shown but indicated by the broken line116) to a longitudinally extending shaft 114, located alongside of theconveyor, in such a manner that the shaft 114 is oscillated through onecomplete cycle of back and forth movement, between limits displacedapproximately 180 from one another, with dwells occurring at each limitof travel, in response to each cycle of oscillation of the shaft 112.The driven shaft 114, also shown in FIG. 1, is used in the illustratedapparatus to drive the article transfer means 37, mentioned hereinabove,for transferring articles from the chutes 36, 36 into the awaiting boxes22, 22 in a manner which will now be described in greater detail.

Turning to FIG. 10, the article transfer means 37 of the presentinvention comprises an upright arm or link 120 which is angularlyadjustably mounted above the driven shaft 114 and carries two sprocketsat its upper end, only one of which is shown at 122. The sprocket 122 isdrivingly connected to the shaft 114 through a chain 124 and stillanother sprocket 126 fixed to the shaft 114 as shown. The sprocket 122is fixed to a shaft 123 rotatably supported by the arm 120. A cross arm128 is also fixed to the shaft 123 for movement thereby between the fullline and broken line positions shown in FIG. 10.

A transfer head is rotatably supported at the free end of the crossarm128 by means of a hollow shaft or tube 131. A sprocket 127 is fixed tothe head 130 and is driven by a chain 129 trained thereover and alsoover the second sprocket (not shown) fixed to the same shaft 123 as thesprocket 122. Therefore as the shaft 114 oscillates the crossarm swingsrelative to the vertical arm 120 and the head 130 rotates relative tothe crossarm to keep from rotating from its true vertical orientation.The hollow shaft 131 is connected to the outlet of a valve body or block132, shown in FIGS. 3 and 14 by flexible line 134.

The transfer head 130 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 15, I6 and 17,and comprises a pair of spaced end plates 302, 302 each of which iswelded to the hollow shaft or tube 131. A pair of angle brackets 304,304 are attached to the lower corners of the end plates 302, 302 so thateach extends along one side ofthe head, and each bracket has ahorizontal flange which includes an elongated slot 306, best shown inFIG. 17. A plurality of transverse bars 308, 308 are adjustably fixed tothe angle brackets 304, 304 by threaded fasteners 320, 320 and each barhas an elongated slot 310 in which a pickup unit 312 is positioned, asbest shown in FIG. 15. Each pickup unit 312' handles or transfers onecandy during each cycle of the movement of the head and has a compliantlower skirt 314 which engages the candy and is capable of accommodatingslight variations in the dimensions thereof. The upper portion 316 ofeach unit 312 is threaded and is capable of being adjustably positionedvertically with respect to its associated bar 308 by two lock nuts 318,318 threadably received thereon on opposite sides of the bar 308. Thesenuts 318, 318 when tightened, also serve to hold each unit 312 in aparticular selected position along the bar 308. The several bars 308,308 are in turn adjustable longitudinally of the head by loosening thescrews 320,320 and sliding them along the angle brackets. 304, 304, thescrews 320, 302 thereafter being retightened to hold the bars 308, 308in their selected positions.

From the foregoing it will therefore be obvious that each pickup unit312 is adjustable in three dimensions relative to the fixed structure ofthe head as represented by the angle brackets 304, 304 and end plates302, 302. That is, each pickup unit is adjustable longitudinallytransversely and vertically relative to the angle brackets 304, 304.This adjustability of the pickup units allows them to be moved todifferent positions to fill different compartments of the boxes 22, 22presented to the loading station associated with the head. The verticaladjustment of the pickup units 312, 312 allows the units to be adjustedto accommodate different heights of candies and to compensate forchanges in the height of the head brought about by angular adjustmentofthe arm 120.

Each of the candy pickup units 312, 312 on each pickup head is connectedto the associated hollow shaft or tube 131 by a flexible conduit 322 sothat each is in turn connected to the vacuum source in response tooperation ofthe valve block 132. The valve block 132, best shown inFlGS. 3 and 14. is connected to a suitable vacuum source (not shown) bya conduit 138 and to the transfer head assembly, just described, by aflexible line 134. The valve block 132 controls the application ofvacuum to the pickup units 312, 312 so that candies may be picked upfrom the chutes 36, 36 and deposited in particular compartments of theawaiting box 22 in timed relationship with the movements of theassociated crossarm 128. That is, the valve block 132 functions, inconjunction with the movements of the arm 128, to turn on the vacuumwhen the transfer head reaches its dwell position over the chutes 36,36and to maintain such vacuum until it reaches its dwell position over theawaiting box 22, at which time the vacuum is destroyed and the arm 128returned to its initial position.

The valve block 132 comprises an elongated rectangular body .having acylindrical bore extending vertically therethrough, with the vacuum line38 connected to its lower inlet end and the flexible line 134 connectedto its upper out let end. A butterfly type valve element 140 ispivotally supported in the bore for movement between open and closedpositions in response to pivotal movement of an associated valve lever142 carried by the shaft 114. The valve element 140 is carried on anaxle which extends diametrically across the bore and which has arms 144and 145 fixed respectively to its opposite ends. Both of said arms arelocated outside of the valve block 132 and the first arm 144 is arrangedso as to be engaged and operated by the free end of the lever 142. Atension spring 141 biases the arm 145 toward a stop 139. When the arm145 is in engagement with the stop 139 the valve element 140 is in anopen position to provide communication between the vacuum source and theassociated transfer head. Movement of the arm 144 by the lever 142 movesthe valve element 140 away from its open position, against the force ofthe spring 141 acting on the arm 145 to a closed position at which thevalve element 140 closes the bore of the valve block and closes off thevacuum source from the transfer head. To assure a positive release ofthe candies when the vacuum source is shut off by the closing of thevalve element 140, the valve block further includes an atmospheric ventport 137, and an associated plate 143, preferably made ofplastic such asDelrin or the like, is moved between open and closed positions relativeto the port by the second arm 145 to which the plate is attached. Thearm 145 is so positioned that the plate 143 covers the vent port 147when the valve element 140 is in its open position and so that the plate143 is moved to an open position relative to the vent port 137 when thevalve element 140 is closed. Therefore, when the valve element isclosed, the vent port 137 is open to release or dump the vacuum existingin the line 136.

it will be understood that the machine includes a number of valve blocks132, 132 with each being associated with a respective on of the transferassemblies 37, 37. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each valve block 132 issupported on a keyway or guide 150, which extends the length of the boxconveyor 20, by means of an attachment member 151 which slideablyengages the keyway and is slideable therealong to different positionsalong the length of the conveyor. Suitable setscrews or other means (notshown) are included in the attachment member 151 for releaseably fixingit in any desired position of adustment. The keyway 150 is also shown inFIG. 10, and from that figure it will also be noted that it additionallyserves as a support for the lower end of each vertical link or arm 120.The lower end of each vertical arm 120 includes an arcuate recess 121which engages a pair of pins 152, 152 arranged generally parallel to therocker shaft 114. A bracket 154 is slidably supported by the keyway 150,as shown, and the pins 152, 152 extend through the bracket 154 and carryroller bearings (not shown) for engaging the shaft 114 to provide ajournal support for the arm 120. The shaft 114 is journaled at its endin suitable bearings (not shown) located at or near the ends of theconveyor 20. The arm 20 is angularly adjustably supported on the bracket154 through an elongated slot 156 so that the arm may be moved angularlyabout the axis of the shaft 114 to vary the location of the transferhead during its article depositing dwell period, relative to the boxes22, 22 brought to the associated loading station by the conveyor 20, toaccommodate different size boxes. That is, by changing the angularorientation of the arm 120 about the axis of the shaft 114 thecenterline of the associated transfer head 130 may be moved laterallyrelative to the boxes brought to the associated loading station by theconveyor. Preferably, the adjustment is such that during the dwell ofthetransfer head over a box at the loading station the centerline of thehead is in approximately the same plane as the centerline of the box.The pickup units 312,312 ofthe transfer head are then adjusted so thatthey are in vertical alignment with the compartments which are desiredto be filled at such loading station. This adjustment is not, however,necessary, and in some instances it may be desirable to have thecenterline of the transfer head, during its article-depositing dwellperiod, located to one side or the other of the centerline of theawaiting box. As brought out hereinafter, the chutes 36, 36 are alsoadjustably connected with the conveyor 20 to allow their lower ends tobe moved toward or away from the side of the conveyor to compensate forchanges in the location of the associated transfer head 130, during itsarticle pickup dwell period, brought about by angular adjustment of thevertical arm 120.

The keyway-receiving end of the bracket 154 is of a split constructionto allow the bracket to be moved to and fixed at different positionsalong the keyway and to allow the bracket, if desired, to be completelydetached from the keyway. That is, the bracket 154 may be readilyremoved from or added to the apparatus without disassembling the shaft114 from its position alongside the conveyor 20. The lower bracket 126is also preferably of a split construction so as to be readilydisassembled from the shaft 114.

Turning now to the description of the chutes 36, 36 FIG. 10

shows each chute 36 as being supported at its lower end by an arm 160having a right-hand end which is received on and supported by the keyway150 as shown for slidable adjustment along. The arm 160, as shown inFIG. l, includes a number of laterally extending slots 161, 161 eachassociated with a respective one of the chutes 36, 36. Each slot in turnreceives an upstanding post 162 which is movable to different positionsalong the length of the slot and which may be fixed at any selectedposition by tightening a bolt on its lower end. The upper end of eachpost 162 is adapted to pivotally receive one end of an elongated supportmember 164 located below and arranged generally parallel to theassociated chute 36. The opposite end of the support member 164 isconnected to and is supported by the upper end ofa vertical strut 166which strut is in turn adjustably mounted to the edge of a circularplate comprising the upper portion of an associated pedestal 42 asshown. More particularly, a bifurcated block 167 is welded to the lowerend of the strut 166 and its bifurcations extend radially inwardly oneither side ofthe circular plate so that a screw 169, threaded into oneof the bifurcations, may be used to releasably clamp thechute-supporting structure in any convenient angular relation relativeto the pedestal. As pointed out hereinafter, the bowl 28 is adjustableangularly about a vertical axis relative to the pedestal and tray 26,and the adjustability of the vertical strut 166 relative to the pedestalallows the upper end of the associated chute to be brought into properrelationship with the gate of the bowl when the bowl is rotated to a newposition relative to the pedestal. Such adjustment of the bowl relativeto the pedestal is often required when the pedestal is moved to a newposition relative to the conveyor to adapt the machine to packing adifferent type of box.

A pair of longitudinally spaced bushings 170, 170 are provided on eachsupport member 164, and each bushing 170 receives a depending post 172which can be rotated therein to adjust the lateral width of the chute toaccommodate the particular candies handled thereby. Each depending post172 includes a slotted lower end portion, best shown in FIG. 7, whichcan be rotated from beneath the support member 164 through the use ofconventional screwdriver or the like. The chute 36 comprises a pair ofchannelshaped members 176 and 178, best shown in FIG. 6, arranged inback-to-back relation and each having an outside leg or flange longerthan its associated inside leg or flange. The two legs of eachchannelshaped member rotatably support a plurality of tapered rollers180, 180 received therebetween. As best shown in FIG. 7, the inner legof the member 176, and also of the member 178, may be made up of aplurality of upwardly extending fingers 182, 182 so that any one of therollers 180. 180 can be readily removed by bending its associated fingerand removing the pivot pin upon which the roller 180 is supported. Thechannelshaped members 176 and 178 are connected to one another by twocam plates 184, 184 best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each attached to arespective one of the posts 172, 172. Each cam plate 184 is welded tothe upper end of its post 172 and includes a pair of arcuately shapednonconcentric notches 186 and 188 each of which receives a dependingscrew 190 carried by an associated one of the channel members 176 or178. Rotation of each post 172 and of the associated cam plate 184achieves a lateral displacement of the channel members 176 and 178, asevident from FIGS. 8 and 9. Therefore, the spacing between the outerlegs of the channel-shaped members 176 and 178 can be convenientlyvaried to accommodate candies or other articles of various sizes.Preferably, and as best shown in FIG. 6, the members 176 and 178 areadjusted to provide a slight spacing between their respective outer legsand the periphery of the candy. This spacing will be maintained as thecandies are fed down the chute by gravity due to the tapered rollerconfiguration, which tends to cause the candies to center themselveslaterally of the chute.

Still with reference to the chutes 36, 36, FIG. 10 shows the illustratedchute broken away to reveal a sensitive electrical switch 192 mounted onthe support member 164 with its actuating element or arm 194 extendingupwardly between the channel-shaped members 176 and 178 so as to beengageable with the candies passing sown the chute. The switch ifpreferably located on the support member 164 so that a convenient numberof candies can be stored on the chute 36 below the switch. As indicatedin FIG. 100, the switch 192 is provided in an electrical circuit forenergizing the actual motor 196 of the associated driving base 30. Asmentioned hereinabove, batches of articles or candies to be packed inthe boxes 22, 22 are first loaded on the inclined trays 26, 26. When ashaker motor is energized the articles on the associated tray arevibrated down the tray into the feeder bowl 28, and around the feederbowl into the associated chute 36. Each candy passing down the chutetrips the switch 192, but the circuit shown in FIG. 10a maintainsenergization of the shaker motor 196 until the switch is held closed byreason ofa predetermined number of articles 24, 24 being stored in thechute. This result is achieved by using a time delay relay and a powerrelay in conjunction with the switch 192 and the motor 196. The timedelay relay has an operating coil 198 and a pair of normally opencontacts 198a. The power relay has an operating coil 199 and a pair ofnormally closed contacts 199a. The coil 198 of the time delay relay isconnected in series with the switch 192 across a pair of power lines.The coil 199 of the power relay is connected in series across the samepower lines with the contacts 198a of the time delay relay, and themotor 196 is also connected across the power lines in series with thepower relay contacts 199a. The coil 198 of the time delay relay mustremain energized for a predetermined amount of time before theassociated contacts 1980 are closed. Therefore, if the switch 192 isonly closed momentarily, as by a candy passing thereover, the coil 198is not energized for a sufficient time to close the associated contacts198a, and the relay coil 199 remains unenergized and the motor 196remains energized. When, however. candy is backed up in the associatedchute 36 to the point where the switch 192 is maintained in a closedposition for a considerable amount of time, the time delay relayoperates to close the contacts 198a. This in turn energizes the powerrelay coil 199 and opens the associated contacts 199a to deenergize themotor 196. In this manner, the shaker motor 166 is cycled on and off asneeded to maintain a substantially constant supply of candies in thechute, this preventing the possibility of the candy becoming crushed orotherwise damaged by the pres; sure of too many candies in the chute.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the vibratory feeder bowl28 and its associated tray conveyor 26, FIG. 13 shows schematically theinternal shaker motor 196 as acting between a relatively fixed base 200,which is shock mounted on the pedestal 42 as shown, and the feeder bowl28, through conventional means indicated by broken lines 202, 202. Theactual means for vibrating the bowl 28 may be similar to that shown anddescribed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 2,790,534, issued to Spurlin onApr. 30, 1957, to which reference is made for a more completedescription. The tray 26 is supported on the pedestal 42 by meansincluding a pair of fixed blocks 204 and 206 each of which isresiliently connected, at spaced locations, to the underside of the tray26 by two depending blocks 208 and 210, respectively. The dependingblock 208 is connected to the fixed block 204 by a flat leaf-type spring212 while the depending block 210 has an offset lower'portion 214 whichis connected to the fixed block 206 by a similarly shaped leaf-typespring 216. The springs 212 and 216 have a width substantially greaterthan their thickness so as to restrict movement of the tray 26 toarcuate movement generally along its length in response to excitation ofthe shaker motor as hereinafter described.

The feeder bowl 28 has generally convex upper surface bounded by theperipherally extending fence 34 as discussed hereinabove. From thesectional view of FIG. 11 and the plan view of FIG. 12, the bowl 28 canfurther be seen to include a ramp or stepped portion leading to theradially inwardly recessed gate which receives the upper end of thechute 36. The shaker motor 196 is effective to produce a generallyarcuate vibratory motion of the bowl 28 which causes articles to be fedaround the bowl in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 12,certain of such articles therefore being fed along the ramp 218 and intothe associated chute 36. The convex upper surface of the bowl 28 causesthese articles to move radially outwardly while the motion imparted tothe bowl by the shaker motor 196 causes them to move in thecounterclockwise direction.

Suitable tooling is provided adjacent the gate of the bowl 28 forrejecting improperly oriented articles before they are fed into theassociated chute. This orientation tooling may take any ofa varietyofconfigurations depending on the nature and shape of the articles beingfed. The illustrated toolinghas, however, been found quite satisfactoryfor articles of generally rectangular or square shape. In theconstruction illustrated, a guide 251 is located adjacent the gate ofthe bowl and extends for some distance rearwardly thereof generallyparallel to the associated portion of the peripheral fence of the bowl,the

guide 251 being spaced inwardly of the peripheral fence by a distanceslightly greater than the shorter dimension of the candies. The rear orupstream portion of the guide 251 is curved inwardly toward the centerof the bowl so as to provide a funnel-shaped mount for receivingcandies. Cooperating with the mount formed by the curved rear portion ofthe guide 251 is a rejecting bar or guide 250. The rejecting guide 250has a bowed shape as shown in FIG. 12, and has its upstream end attachedto the peripheral fence 34 of the bowl. Associated with the guide 250 isa screw 252 which is threadably received in a bolt, welded or otherwisefixed to the peripheral fence, and which extends through the fence intoengagement with the guide 250 intermediate its ends. The guide 250 ismade of a spring material and is biased by its own resiliency toward the,screw 252. Therefore, by rotating the screw 252 in one direction or theother, the guide 250 may be moved toward or;

justed, the guide 250 allows only those candies which are properlyoriented to pass therebeyond into the mouth formed by the curved portionof the guide 251. Those candies which are improperly oriented have theircenters of gravity located inwardly of the inner edge of the ramp 218and by their own weight fall off of the ramp and slide down an inclinedsurface 220 extending from the inner edge of the ramp to the bowl floor,as best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The inclination of the surface 220 issufficiently slight that the articles moving thereover do not tumble andloose their upside-up orientation. Thus, these articles are in positionfor a subsequent pass a the ramp ramp 218 and the associated gate.

The bowl 28 as best seen in FIG. 13, has a central opening 222 conveyoris attached to the shaker motor mechanism by two generally circularupper and lower plates 224 and 226. The lower plate 226 is fixed to theshaker mechanism and is oscillated about its vertical central axis whenthe shaker motor 196 is energized. The upper plate 224 is releasablysecured to the lower plate by a screw 228, and the two plates receiveand clamp therebetween inner marginal lip 223 of the bowl. As soconstructed and arranged, the angular orientation ofthe bowl 28 can beconveniently preset or adjusted, by rotating it relative to the plates224 and 226, to cause its gate to be aligned with the associated chute36 to suit various different orientations of the bowl and chute withrespect to the box conveyor 20. As shown in FIG. 12, the upper and lowerplates 224 and 226 are further clamped to one another by additionalreleasable fasteners 229, 229, and they include openings or notches 211and 213 through which the depending blocks 208 and 210 respectivelyextend without interferring with the oscillating motion ofthe plates.

Referring now to the means for vibrating the tray 26 in response to thevibrations ofthe bowl 28, this means, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13,includes a rectangularly shaped block 230 which is fixedly attached tothe upper clamping plate 224. A stud 234 projects outwardly from oneside of the block 230 and is adjustable to various different pointsalong the length of such side by means of a suitable adjustmentmechanism including a screw 232 projecting from the outer end of theblock. Turning the screw 232 in one direction moves the stud in onedirection relative to the block, and turning the screw in the otherdirection moves the stud in the other direction relative to the block.The side of the block from which the stud projects is oriented generallyradially of the central axis ofthe feeder bowl and therefore movement ofthe stud along such side changes its radial displacement from suchcentral axis. The fixed block 206 includes an upstanding post 236 whichalso passes through the notch 213 in the clamping plates 224 and 226 soas not to interfere with the vibratory movements thereof. This post 236rotatably supports at its upper end a generally triangularly shapedanvil plate 238 having one generally straight edge in contact with thestud 234. Therefore as the block 230 and stud 234 are vibrated angularlyabout the central axis of the bowl, the stud drives against theassociated edge of the anvil plate 238 and vibrates the latter about theaxis of the post 236. A screw 240 is threaded received in the dependingportion 214 ofthe block 210 and has one end in engagement with anotheroutwardly facing edge of the triangularly shaped anvil plate 238. As soconstructed and arranged, arcuate vibratory movements of the feeder bowl28 are transmitted through the stud 234 and the triangular plate 238 tovibrate the screw 240, and the associated block 210 and tray 26, alongits length with an amplitude determined by the radial displacement ofthe stud 234 from the central axis of the feeder bowl 28. The flatsprings 212 and 216 restrict the tray 26 movement substantially alongits length, and therefore the tray 26 is caused to vibrate and feedarticles longitudinally therealong in response to the arcuate vibrationsof the feeder bowl 28. Thus, whenever the shaker motor 196 is energizedby the circuit shown in FIG. 10a, both the bowl 28 and its associatedtray 26 are so vibrated as to feed articles from the tray to the bowland around the bowl to the associated chute 36. It should be noted alsothat the tray-supporting springs 212 and 216 also are so arranged thatthey bias the screw 240 into engagement with the anvil, and this in turnbiases the anvil toward the stud 234, so that the parts of themotion-transmitting mechanism are kept in engagement with one another.

FIG. 18 shows an alternative feeding arrangement wherein a tray 26 and abowl 28 are vibrated separately by two separate vibrating means whichare labeled tray feed" and bowl feed, respectively. Further the tray 26may be made up of two separate sections, 26A and 263 which areseparately vibrated at different frequencies. The section 26A, nearerthe bowl, preferably vibrates at a higher frequency than the section 265away from the bowl so that individual articles are separated somewhatbefore being delivered into the bowl 28. The tray 26 preferably isactuated by a bowl feed switch located at the bottom of the bowl feedtrack. When there is no article on the switch, the trays 26A and 26Bvibrate to feed articles into the bowl while the bowl is vibrated at ahigh amplitude. When articles arrive at the bowl feed switch, the switchis actuated to stop the trays and to reduce the amplitude of vibrationof the bowl. Suitable controls are provided for adjusting the relativeamplitudes of the trays and the bowl.

The tray 26 may be inclined slightly, as discussed for the previousembodiments, or it may lie in a horizontal plane for feeding articles tothe bowl.

What we claim is:

1. In apparatus for feeding articles the combination comprising:

a feeder bowl having a peripheral fence and a gate in said fence for thedischarge of articles from the bowl, a tray associated with said bowland having its lower end positioned so as to feed articles therefrominto the bowl,

said tray comprising two separate sections in feeding alignment witheach other,

a first means for vibrating said bowl about a vertical central axis sothat articles on said bowl are fed toward and along said peripheralfence to said gate, said first means for vibrating further including astationary base and a motor carried by said base and drivingly connectedwith said bowl for vibrating said bowl relative to said base, anddriving means between said bowl and said tray, said driving meansincluding an abutment member supported for movement with said bowl, ananvil supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis fixedrelative to said stationary base and spaced from said central axis ofsaid bowl, said anvil having a first portion in engagement with saidabutment member so that said anvil is moved about said fixed verticalaxis in response to said vibration of said bowl, means defining agenerally vertical abutment surface fixed relative to said tray whichabutment surface is perpendicular to the desired direction of vibratorymovement of said tray, said anvil having a second portion in engagementwith said latter abutment surface, and means for supporting said trayand for resiliently resisting its movement along its longitudinal axis,said tray supporting means being so arranged that the resiliency thereofurges said abutment surface into engagement with said anvil and in turnbiases said anvil into engagement with said abutment member, and

second means for vibrating said tray along its longitudinal axis, saidsecond means for vibrating including a separate vibrating device foreach of the two separate sections of the tray.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separate vibrating devicesoperate at different frequencies.

1. In apparatus for feeding articles the combination comprising: afeeder bowl having a peripheral fence and a gate in said fence for thedischarge of articles from the bowl, a tray associated with said bowland having its lower end positioned so as to feed articles therefrominto the bowl, said tray comprising two separate sections in feedingalignment with each other, a first means for vibrating said bowl about avertical central axis so that articles on said bowl are fed toward andalong said peripheral fence to said gate, said first means for vibratingfurther including a stationary base and a motor carried by said base anddrivingly connected with said bowl for vibrating said bowl relative tosaid base, and driving means between said bowl and said tray, saiddriving means including an abutment member supported for movement withsaid bowl, an anvil supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axisfixed relative to said stationary base and spaced from said central axisof said bowl, said anvil having a first portion in engagement with saidabutment member so that said anvil is moved about said fixed verticalaxis in response to said vibration of said bowl, means defining agenerally vertical abutment surface fixed relative to said tray whichabutment surface is perpendicular to the desired direction of vibratorymovement of said tray, said anvil having a second portion in engagementwith said latter abutment surface, and means for supporting said trayand for resiliently resisting its movement along its longitudinal axis,said tray supporting means being so arranged that the resiliency thereofurges said abutment surface into engagement with said anvil and in turnbiases said anvil into engagement with said abutment member, and secondmeans for vibrating said tray along its longitudinal axis, said secondmeans for vibrating including a separate vibrating device for each ofthe two separate sections of the tray.
 2. The apparatus oF claim 1wherein said separate vibrating devices operate at differentfrequencies.